Background Cervical cancer is the commonest cancer of women’s reproductive system, and is caused by a progression of precancerous lesions of the cervix. Studies on the prevalence and associated factors of precancerous lesions of the cervix are very limited in Ethiopia, particularly in the study area. Objective This study aimed to assess precancerous lesions of the cervix and associated factors among women of East Gojjam, northwest Ethiopia in 2020. Methods A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 340 cervical cancer–screened women in three hospitals of East Gojjam from February to April 2020. Data were collected by six BSc-qualified nurses who were working in the selected hospitals. EpiData Manager and SPSS 26 were used for data management and analysis. After the data had been clean, descriptive analysis was done and multivariate logistic regression used to identify predictors of precancerous lesions of the cervix. Statistical significance was taken to be P <0.05. Results Of the 340 recruited women, 15.3% (95% CI 11.83%–19.54%) had precancerous cervical lesions. Mean age was 37.11±9.3 years. Age 46–55 (AOR 3.8, 95% CI 1.21–12.47) years, age 56–65 (AOR 12.26, 95% CI 3.18–47.18) years, residing rurally (AOR 2.04, 95% CI 1.12–3.7), prolonged use of oral contraceptive pills (AOR 9.11, 95% CI 1.14–72.8), history of sexual transmitted infection (STI; AOR 3.40, 95% CI 1.32–8.78), HIV-positive status (AOR 4.89, 95% CI 1.54–15.49), and number of lifetime sexual partners (AOR 9.87, 95% CI 1.38–70.4) were important factors associated with precancerous lesions of the cervix. Conclusion We found relatively high prevalence of precancerous cervical lesions. Age, rural residence, prolonged use of oral contraceptives, STI, multiple sexual partners, and being HIV-positive were important factors associated with precancerous cervical lesions. Women aged >46 years, with a history of STI, being HIV infected, and with a history of multiple sexual partners should be encouraged to get screened for cervical cancer.

Background Human papillomavirus is a common pathogen that infects the skin and mucosal epithelium, is transmitted sexually; causes condylomas or squamous cell carcinomas. Two (16 and 18) of the 150 HPV serotypes are oncogenic types. Studies have been done on the infection by oncogenic human papillomavirus 16/18 and associated factors are found to be very limited in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of oncogenic human papillomavirus infection (HPV 16/18) and associated factors among women. Methods An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 337 women screened for cervical cancer in two hospitals in East Gojjam Zone from February to April 2021 G.C. Four BSc-qualified nurses who worked in the chosen hospitals collected the data using pretested questionnaire and an HPV test (OncoE6TM Cervical Test) specific to HPV16/18 in cervical swabs. Descriptive analysis was performed to determine the prevalence and a multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify the associated factors of HPV16/18 infection. Finally, statistical significance was declared at P < 0.05. Results The prevalence of HPV infection was 14.2% (95% CI: 10.7% -18.1%). The mean age of the respondents was 36.7 ± 9.1 years. Women with the age group of 55–65 years (AOR = 7.91, 95% CI: 1.95–32.09), early initiation of sexual intercourse (AOR = 5.36, 95% CI: 1.58–18.13), history of sexually transmitted infection (STI) (AOR = 3.52, 95% CI: 1.27–9.72), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive status (AOR = 6.8, 95% CI: 1.99–23.54), and number of lifetime sexual partners (AOR = 4.37, 95% CI: 1.15–17.3) were important independent factors associated with the presence of oncogenic HPV infection. Conclusion and Recommendation: We found a relatively low prevalence of high-risk HPV infection. Age, early initiation of sexual intercourse at less than 18 years, STI of women, being HIV seropositive, and a number of sexual partners were important factors for high-risk HPV infection. Women aged > 46 years, women with early initiation of sex, a history of STI, being HIV positive, and a history of multiple sexual partners should be encouraged to be screened and vaccinated for HPV infection. Wider-ranging studies are also needed in HPV-infected women in association with the cervical lesion.